When you ask someone to describe what a multitool looks like, most individuals will say Leatherman. Rather than trying to put into words what one looks like, Leatherman has branded the name multitool as the brand; similar to what other companies have done to their products e.g.. Kleenex , Goodyear etc. So the look of most multitools are the same, a pair of pliers where the handles pivot and hide the various tools that the multitool contains. Things were not always like this, there are many brands and designs that predate those made by Leatherman. The original multitool was a traditional style slip-joint pocket knife (similar to what your grandfather carries) and they incorporated a pair of pliers, fixed to the body of the handle. Unlike the small pliers you find on Swiss Army knives, this gave the user a more pocket friendly tool with the power of real pliers.

What kind of people would write collect and review multitools? Quite simple really- we are designers and do-ers, outdoors types and indoor types, mechanics, doctors, problem solvers and problem makers. As such, we have, as a world spanning community, put every type, size and version of multitool, multifunction knife, pocket knife and all related products to every test we could manage in as many places and environments as there are.